A sombre cloud enveloped the nation as news broke of a fatal crowd stampede at a stadium in the heart of Madagascar‘s capital, Antananarivo, on Friday.
As reported by both the Red Cross and a local member of parliament, the sad event led to the deaths of at least 13 people, with seven of them being children.
Speaking on a local radio station, opposition MP Hanitra Razafimanantsoa conveyed the heartbreaking toll, saying, “So far, 13 people have been killed and 107 injured.”
The Red Cross, present at the scene, echoed the gravity of the situation, stating, “We don’t yet have the final list.”
Initial estimates provided by the prime minister of Madagascar, Christian Ntsay, had placed the toll at “12 dead and some 80 injured.”
The stampede unfolded at the entrance to the Barea stadium, a venue that had attracted a crowd of approximately 50,000 spectators gathered for the inaugural ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games.
The cause behind this tragic incident remains shrouded in uncertainty, though the Red Cross voiced concerns that the casualty count might escalate. Antsa Mirado, a communications manager with the Red Cross, recounted, “There were a lot of people at the entrance, which triggered a stampede.”
In the presence of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, who attended the opening ceremony, a minute’s silence was observed to honour the victim
Addressing the nation via a televised speech, President Rajoelina lamented, “A tragic event occurred because there was pushing. There were injuries and deaths at the entrance.”
Television screens portrayed scenes of bewilderment and distress as individuals attempted to locate their belongings amidst the aftermath of the devastating crush. Social media platforms bore witness to images from inside the stadium, showcasing packed stands filled with spectators.
The Indian Ocean Island Games, a multi-disciplinary sports event, are currently taking place in Madagascar and are scheduled to continue until September 3rd. These games have been a recurring event for nearly four decades, held every four years across various islands in the southwest Indian Ocean. The most recent edition transpired in Mauritius.
Tragically, Madagascar has experienced prior stadium-related fatalities. The Barea stadium, the island’s largest, with a population of roughly 28 million, was the site of a similar catastrophe in 2019. During a concert organised for the country’s national holiday, at least 16 lives were lost and dozens were injured. Among the victims were three children.
